ion crossing the Yalu in
great masses and over-running northern Cho-Sen like locusts. It was said
they were given to cannibal practices. I know of experience that they
were terrible fighters, most difficult to convince of a beating.

A whirlwind year it was. While Yunsan and the Lady Om at Keijo completed
the disgrace of Chong Mong-ju, I proceeded to make a reputation for
myself. Of course it was really Hendrik Hamel at my back, but I was the
fine figure-head that carried it off. Through me Hamel taught our
soldiers drill and tactics and taught the Red Heads strategy. The
fighting was grand, and though it took a year, the year's end saw peace
on the northern border and no Red Heads but dead Red Heads on our side
the Yalu.

I do not know if this invasion of the Red Heads is recorded in Western
history, but if so it will give a clue to the date of the times of which
I write. Another clue: when was Hideyoshi the Shogun of Japan? In my
time I heard the echoes of the two invasions, a generation before, driven
by Hideyoshi through the heart of Cho-Sen from Fusan in the south to as
far north as Pyeng-Yang. It was this Hideyoshi who sent back to Japan a
myriad tubs of pickled ears and noses of Koreans slain in battle. I
talked with many old men and women who had seen the fighting and escaped
the pickling.

Back to Keijo and the Lady Om. Lord, Lord, she was a woman. For forty
years she was my woman. I know. No dissenting voice was raised against
the marriage. Chong Mong-ju, clipped of power, in disgrace, had retired
to sulk somewhere on the far north-east coast. Yunsan was absolute.
Nightly the single beacons flared their message of peace across the land.
The Emperor grew more weak-legged and blear-eyed what of the ingenious
deviltries devised for him by Yunsan. The Lady Om and I had won to our
hearts' desires. Kim was in command of the palace guards. Kwan Yung-
jin, the provincial governor who had planked and beaten us when we were
first cast away, I had shorn of power and banished for ever from
appearing within the walls of Keijo.

Oh, and Johannes Maartens. Discipline is well hammered into a sea-cuny,
and, despite my new greatness, I could never forget that he had been my
captain in the days we sought new Indies in the _Sparwehr_. According to
my tale first told in Court, he was the only free man in my following.
The rest of the cunies, being considered my slaves, could not aspire to
office of any sor